The Construction Chemicals World

In the rapid expansion of the construction industry during the sixties, basic advice regarding durability of concrete in the presence of aggressive environment like carbonation, alkali silica reaction, moisture etc resulting in corrosion of reinforcement and detoriating the quality of concrete, often went unheeded. Today, the experts from the field of concrete have advanced on durability, repair, and protection of structures and have developed state-of-the- materials and techniques.

Concrete does not always behave as we would like, some of the undesirable behaviour can be seen as disintegration, spalling, cracking, leakage, deflection and settlement.

Durable concrete structures can be achieved only through careful attention to many details. This Update discusses the key determinants of durability for both new construction and repair of old structures. The durability of concrete structures can be defined as their ability to sustain the serviceability for which they were designed. Basic to the concept of durability is a commitment to quality and its assurance. With respect to concrete, quality assurance is a matter of testing and inspecting to ensure the proper selection, proportioning, mixing, handling, placing, and curing of the materials, as well as the appropriate design of the structure itself.

To begin with, in today's age of premium on space, basements are constructed to give more usable space. Naturally, Water-proofness is essential and here STP System of Basement / Roof Waterproofing using Shalicrete P/R/E & STP APP membrane namely Super ThermoLay APP PL/MT are an excellent frontline sentry, having stood the test of time.


All good security systems have a backup and so also is the case here. To obtain a good impervious basement, concrete should be admixed with integral Waterproofers like STP No.1 (Powder) or plasticizing Waterproofers STP No.1 (Liquid), to reduce porosity (thus increasing impermeability) and capillary absorption of water. Water, though an essential ingredient is not a very good master. Depending upon a number of factors the walls could be constructed with bricks, blocks or concrete and the binders admixed with STP No.1 (Powder) or STP No1 (Liquid).

To obtain desired concrete strength a number of plasticisers, superplasticisers cu‎m water-reducing admixtures are available. ShaliPlast SP, ShaliPlast HP, ShaliPlast PCE. If time is a constraint, the weather is cold which delays setting of concrete, ShaliPlast FS is the answer. On the other hand, when the temperature is high and concrete sets faster or there is a chance that cold joints will develop, ShaliPlast R is amongst those that will alleviate the difficult encounters of concrete kind.

All reinforced concrete requires formwork in some form or the other. A good finish without the usual ungainly stains of burnt or spent petro-products can be imparted to concrete with the use of concreting aids like ShaliSlip, a mould releasing agent.

Curing, though an absolutely essential part of any work involving cementitious material is either not carried out satisfactorily or misunderstood. ShaliCure PA (Waxed based) or ShaliCure SS is a panacea to these shortcomings, and with the water table shrinking everyday, a good alternative to conserve precious natural resources.

As mentioned earlier, the pressure on terra firma to accommodate the ever-growing population is very high. Solution Rise higher and higher. STP System of Waterproofing Treatment for Wet Areas (Toilets, Kitchens, Wash Space, etc.) is an excellent solution to make living more hygienic and tension free (litigation is expensive apart from being frustrating).

PLASTICISER for CONCRETE which is added to the concrete mix at the time of mixing. Depending on the degree of effectiveness of water reduction, the plasticizer have been categorized in two groups which are:

a) Normal plasticizers capable of reducing water up to 10%
b) Super plasticizers which are capable of reducing water 15 to 20% & above.

Generally, the effectiveness of both the types of plasticizers are dependent on the ambient temperature condition and thus in summer the amount of plasticizer to be used to cater for the same degree of increase in plasticity can be more than the quantity to be used in winter.

Expansion joints are an integral part of structures where thermal movements are pronounced on account of their dimensions. ShaliSeal PS effectively seals them. STP Limited, an Indian Company with 75 years backing, is the most trusted name in the field of Construction Chemicals, for of its Quality & Services and is the most preferred brand of Architects, Consultants & Contractors.